Bit.



No. 856,574. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. J. C. DUNKS.

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APPLICATION rmm FEB. 2a. 1906.

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JESSE Ci DUNKS, OF BOULDER, MONTANA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed February 28, 1906. Serial No- 303,425.

To all when 2, [It HZ/(Ly concern.-

Be it known that 1,-Jnssn (J. DUNKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boulder, in the county of Jefferson, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to bits for bridles.

It has for its object the provision of a bit of simple construction that may be most elliciently employed as a snaffle or curb bit.

The nature of the invention is embodied in a snaffle jointed at its center by a link having the form of a figure 8 or double loop in one of which loops one section of the snaffle is pivoted, the other section being connected with the other ring, making a kind of double joint, check-rings having a hinged connection with the ends of the snaffle, and ring chains for the curb and for the attachment of the reins being also connected to the checkrings.

The invention is fully and clearly described in the following specification, with reference to the annexed drawing and the figures of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification, the said drawings representing in Figure l, a front view of the invention complete; and in Fig. 2, a sectional detail in the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Like figures of reference designate like parts or features, as the case may be, whereever they occur.

In the drawings, 1 designates the snaffle, having the center joint formed by connecting the sections to a link made in the form of a figure 8, the inner end of the section 2 being jointed to the ring 3 of said link and the section at connected in like manner to the ring 5. The check-rings 6 and 7 are hinged to the outer ends of the sections 2 and 4, respectively, in the usual way, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The curb is formed by two chains 8 and 9, made up of rings as links, the end of the chain 8 is connected with the check-ring 7 by a clip 10 and passed through the check-ring 6, the free end 11 extending from the said checkring 6 by its last link forming a means for the attachment of one rein (not shown) while the other rein (not shown) may be attached to the last link of the free end 12 of the chain 13, which extends through the check-ring 7 and is attached at its other endby means of a clip 13 to the check-ring 6.

In use the curb chains S9 will extend under the under jaw of the horse or other animal and, as the reins are drawn upon the said chains, they will tighten on the animals mouth, the check-rings turning under or in ward, and the inner ends will be doubled upward forcing the double link 1 into the roof of the animals mouth ctl'ectually curbing him. As soon as the reins are relaxed the curb chains and snal'l'le will also be relaxed allowing the horse perfect freedom from annoyance or pain from the curb or snaffle.

By removing the curb-chains and attach ing the reins to the check-rings 6 and 7, the invention may be employed as a snaffle, the double link 1 operating most effectively, as stated in respect to the curb.

Instead of attaching the ends of the curb chain to the check-rings 6 and 7 through the medium of the clips 10 and 13, the said chains may be directly connected to the check-rings by means of the end links.

Other changes involving a variation in form and arrangement and calling for mere mechanical skill may be made without departing from the nature or spirit of the in vention.

I claim The combination of a snafIle consisting of a pair of sections, a link connecting the inner ends of said sections, and a ring hinged to the outer end of each section, and means connected with the driving reins and the rings for positively breaking the shame to force the link against the roof of the horses mouth, said means comprising a chain having one end secured to each ring and its opposite end passed loosely through the other ring and connected with a rein.

In testimony whereof, I a'llix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE DUNKS.

\Vitnesses:

NILs LANSON, J. B. MAXFIELD. 

